ABSTRACT
Making a quality component is not unlike baking a good pastry. To the base element (iron in one case; flour in the other), we add key ingredients (alloys in one case; eggs, sugar, salt, water, etc. in the other). Each alloying element, like each baking ingredient, brings a unique and valuable characteristic to the mix. In the process of combining the key ingredients, we take care to avoid the introduction of impurities (sulfur in one case, a hair in the other). The ingredients are mixed and poured (casting or forging in one case; pouring in pots and pans in the other).
